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What should Dodge do next?

March 1, 2012

Dodge could be an endangered species on the NASCAR Sprint Cup scene without the addition of a big-name team in 2013. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Elsewhere on this site's front page, Steven Cole Smith does an excellent job laying out some what's-next-for-Dodge scenarios, now that its NASCAR team, Penske Racing, has announced it will jump ship to Ford next year.

I have no idea what will happen in 2012; I don't have any insider information for you. I do, however, have some ideas about what Dodge should do. Nobody asked me, but here they are anyway.

I've been reading in the comments sections of this site and others that Penske leaving will kill Dodge's Cup program. So let's first dispel that notion. Yes, of course losing Penske is a big blow, but the new Charger is on schedule, and the plan still calls for it to be unveiled at NASCAR's Las Vegas round on March 11.

Meanwhile, the first phone call I'd make would be to Joe Gibbs Racing, even though it appears to have a long-term contract with Toyota. We all know how much contracts in racing are worth if someone is willing to write a big enough check. So here's my thinking: With three of the best Cup teams--Roush, Hendrick and Childress--tied to Ford and Chevrolet, Gibbs's Toyota deal looks ripe for the pickin', sort of a best of the rest. Joe Gibbs Racing is in its 20th year (good grief it's been that long already?!) and has won a stout 93 races with drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. It's won three championships, won 11 races just two years ago and in 2009 fielded Cup rookie of the year Joey Logano. Gibbs would obviously be a big shot in the arm for Dodge.

The next call I'd make would be to Richard Petty. I know, I know, Petty Racing ain't what it used to be. But what a way to get fans teary-eyed and nostalgic, seeing the legendary Petty Blue Dodges back on the track, just like the good ol' days. I'd set it up sort of as a joint venture between the two teams: Dodge needs Petty for the history and Gibbs to do the blocking and tackling.

Like I said, nobody asked my opinion, but put in charge of Dodge’s racing program tomorrow, that’s what I’d do. Of course, there are plenty of other issues outstanding, not the least of which is where Dodge’s engines will come from next year. It could be a tough sell to any team to come over to the Dodge side if you don’t have a top-line engine program.

But that's a whole 'nother story.

Wes Raynal
- Wes Raynal joined Crain Communications’ circulation department while still in college. When he graduated in 1986, he became a reporter for Autoweek sister publication Automotive News. He has worked as Autoweek’s associate editor, news editor, motorsports editor and executive editor before being named editor in 2009.
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